1997 Rioting broke out in Yining, Zinjiang following death of Deng Ziaoping. Bombs planted on buses killed nine, injured 74

1997 China regained control of Hong Kong , after 99 years of British rule

1997 Russia signed agreement to build a $3 billion dollar nuclear power plant in China

1998Zhu Rongji became premier

1998New reforms announced, including continued deceleration of economy, restructuring of state-owned businesses through amalgamations, shared flotations and bankruptcies, four million civil service jobs to be eliminated

1999 Nato bombed Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia)

1999 China assumed formal sovereignty over Macau after 442 years of Portuguese control

2000's

2000China reached market-opening trade deal with European Union

2000 Bomb explosion in Urumqi, Xinjiang killed 60

2001Five members of Falun Gong set themselves on fire to protest unfair treatment of Falun Gong by government

2001Mid-air collision over Hainan Island between U.S. Navy plane and People's Liberation Army Navy fighter jet resulted in international dispute between U.S. and China